landscapes Foggy Morning at Eagle Lake

This one breaks the dead center rule but seems to work. What do you

think? Input on all aspects are welcome.

I think it works just great. You have trees on the left, and the water exits the bottom to the left of center, so this doesn't appear to be a perfectly symmentrical image (which some suggest breaks a "rule"). I think you've placed the primary subject (the birds) in just the right place.

Doesnt work for me. Not because I believe in rules, but let me ask: what does the right side contribute to the image ? A photo is good, when you can`t take away anything. I tried a crop RHS and liked it better. Superb light, very attractive colors, really worth the effort ;-)

What the right side does for me is to establish the context for the canal. I'm very familiar with cattail wetlands that have open channels, and this image clearly identifies this as one of those situations. However, Carsten makes a good point, and another alternative is to crop on the right for a different image. That one also appeals to me, because the elements that remain make a contribution over and above that of simply providing context.

 

The only part of the image that I might like to see changed is to wait about 2 seconds for the feeding duck to pop back upright. I also find that side views generally work the best because the outline of the bird is more clearly defined. Trying to choreograph that without them gradually swimming off into the foggy distance can be difficult.

Thanks for the comments on further croppng. I trimmed about 320 pixels off the right side, and I like the way it moved the vanishing point further off center. This works for me too;-)

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5818467-md.jpg

So here's another option (you'd have to retake however). Lower your angle, kneeling or lying, close down the amount of water exiting. I would still want to see the tops of the reeds in one photo and then have another with more of a water view leading down the path of water. If the ducks weren't accents in the photo then I would say to lower a little and move to the right closing down the angle (slightly) of water exiting into the main body.

Regards, Dave

Dave, my view was from a walking bridge that runs across the swamp (and over the inlet between the two lakes). To get any lower I'd have to be in wadding boots probably up to my chest;-)   The shoot is made even more interesting when another person crosses the bridge - the whole thing bounces up and down until they've walked onto hard ground again. This shot was taken at 1/8s at f/5.6. I believe I used the A-DEP feature on the 30D. It was very difficult to time when the geese and ducks were motionless enough for a shot. There were lots of other shots where they were not! But, of course, those are the challenges that make this all so adventursome, aren't they;-)

Given the extra variables, well done. Just looking at a photo, we tend to forget some of the difficulties that may have been behind the scenes that we, the viewer, aren't aware of.

Both crops work fine for me. I particularly like the way in which the top of the picture disappears into the mist, giving the trees on the top left a ghostly appearance.

...vissual effect